Thursday, September 30, 2010

Every year the folks at Pretty City take the month of October to give out and give back, sponsoring Pretty in Pink across the country. This year, like all others, beauty industry spots are offering services for $31 during the 31 days of October. Get everything from massages, waxes, hairstylings, and nail care for just $31....and for a good cause! Proceeds benefit breast and ovarian cancer research.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Over the summer B.A.F.F.L.E.D. reportedon a WashingtonD.C. lawyer claiming to be the long-lost father of LeBron James. The case alleged Leicester Stovell's paternity test proving he is LeBron's father was tampered with by the NBA star and his mother, Gloria James. The 2 have asked for the suit to be dismissed.

Last week, Stovell filed a 22-page document including a supplemented memorandum of law, in opposition to defendants’ motion to dismiss, and supplemental points and authorities. Despite representing himself, the court is showing him no mercy. The judge hearing the case struck the latest filing from the record, because it violates a local rule of civil procedure.

“Although Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the Court notes that he is an active member of the District of Columbia bar and is expected to comply with all applicable rules of this Court,” notes U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the District of Columbia.

Monday, September 27, 2010

In an attempt to get out of the recession, market researchers and gurus are going the technical route. Being forced to try new things, keep shoppers interested and ready to spend money, retailers must stay on their toes and keep consumers on theirs as well.

Marketing departments are trying interactive technologies to give shoppers a new experience in stores and boost sales. Many of the devices are futuristic, and even resemble the smart devices we carry in our pockets. One device even connects shoppers directly to a favorite social network. It's a mirror letting shoppers scan an item and project it onto her body before going to the dressing room. The mirror can be tapped to view different colors, find matching accessories, and send the image to their Facebook profile.

With a surge in online shopping, because of its ease and speed, physical stores must find ways to stay in the game. "The role the store is playing is changing," says Mr. Ross, who was previously chief marketing officer at Home Depot. "Shoppers are walking up with a different set of expectations."

Stores like Best Buy, J.C. Penney, and even Dunkin Donuts are putting big money into innovating the experience of their customers. It will be interesting to see how the shopping scene continues to change, and where we'll be in another couple years.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Links Hall is a Chicago theater company, offering programs and events in the performing arts.

Links Hall encourages artistic innovation and public engagement by maintaining a facility and providing flexible programming for the research, development and presentation of new work in the performing arts.

Check out the recently announced programs and scholarships.-----

Creative Force: The Joffrey's Choreographers of Color AwardThe Joffrey Ballet is proud to announce a call for artists to submit applications for Creative Force: The Joffrey's Choreographers of Color Award. Two selected choreographers will be given a minimum of 30 rehearsal hours to set their piece on the Academy Trainees of The Joffrey Ballet. Each winning artist will also receive a $2,500 stipend.Deadline: October 1, 2010MAP Fund for Contemporary Arts Performance Projects announces application guidelines for grants of up to $45,000 to be awarded to playwrights, choreographers, directors, composers, and performers experimenting in any live performance tradition or discipline.... Deadline:October 15, 2010 (Online Letter of Inquiry)

Friday, September 24, 2010

Improve the Economy; Share the Employment
B.A.F.F.L.E.D. is in the business of jumpstarting the economy. As promised, we will keep posting jobs across the nation to help get America working. Please feel free to send along any postings you have or know of, or note them in the Comments section below.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Recently MSN Health & Fitness published news on healthy foods and recipes to help us all maintain optimal health. B.A.F.F.L.E.D. is all about being healthy, and has spotlighted some of the items critical to skin care, and overall healthy dining. We hope they're helpful!----------

Water-Rich Foods
Foods high in water content, such as cucumbers, watermelon, apples, peaches, melons, and celery, are some of the best hydrating solutions for your skin. They fight wrinkles, keeping you looking fresh-faced. Hydrating fluids, like green tea, sparkling beverages, or coconut water are highly recommended to keep the skin moist. Try a Watermelon-berry Sparkler!

Natural Skin ProtectionZinc, Copper, and Selenium - Great for collagen production. Find them in chicken, lean beef, walnuts, chickpeas, and dried fruits. Zinc is also helpful in cold prevention. Carrots and Tomatoes - Bright veggies are packed with phytonutrients and antioxidants, which protect against damaging free radicals. The beta carotene and lycopene found in them also protect your skin from sun damage and repair skin cells.

Kiwifruit - Helps maintain clear skin and promotes bone health. One cup peeled kiwifruit contains more vitamin C than the equivalent amount of oranges. Plus, it neutralizes free radicals which could lead to things like cancer and heart disease.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Friday, September 24th-- 11am - 7pm
Saturday, September 25th -- 10am - 2pm
We keep only the very best of gently used clothing- both designer and professional. Every $100 you spend will help us provide 9 full outfits for a
client over a period of 6 months.Take pride in Shopping at Bottomless Closet!
Recycle, Renew, Rejoice!

INSIDER NEWS!IMPORTANT!

Mark your calendars for October 28th!"Design and Conquer" - a fundraiser for Bottomless Closet.Peach Carr and Sarah Trost from season 8's PROJECT RUNWAYwill be joining everyone at this eventcentered around design and fashion.DIRTT show room at 325 N. Wells, 10th floor from 5:30 - 9pm

Tickets $60 in advance. $75 at the door.Tickets for insiders available now. Call 312.527.9664 - ask for Jude.

PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A TAX DEDUCTIBLE FINANCIAL DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR GREAT MISSION.

89% OF EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE GOES TOWARDS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR OUR CLIENTS.

The mission of Bottomless Closet is to support women in transition by providing business professional clothing, career skills and image coaching, empowering them to interview with confidence, gain employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency.

VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS NEEDED

We need volunteers from Tuesday to Friday to help with administrative tasks and to work closely with clients.Please call Quashee at 312.527.9664 or emailqcollier@bottomlesscloset.orgif you think you can help.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Nuova Vita, meaning "new life" in Italian, is a refreshing fashion line embodying versatility, lush fabrics, and contemporary styles for the fashion forward woman. This brand is not only innovative, bringing us the 12-Ways dress, but also practical. The Nuova Vita Collection was designed with comfort and style in mind, and can take you from daytime casual chic, to evening glam...effortlessly.

Francesca, the brains and beauty behind Nuova Vita, not only has an eye for fashion, but also the training and experience to support it. After earning a degree in Fashion Merchandising, and working for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Hugo Boss, it's no surprise such an amazing brand would be well on its way.

The Bridesmaid Fav! - Signature Modern Mary Lynn Asymmetrical Dress

From dresses, to swimwear and separates, this collection has it all. Nuovo Vita is the perfect choice for bridesmaids dresses and styling your next major event. Check out the many styles and selections Nuova Vita has to offer, and breathe new life into your wardrobe!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

B.A.F.F.L.E.D. obviously has a love for law and soft spot for charitable work. When we heard about the program a Los Angeles entertainment law attorney started, we just had to report it.

Anthony J. Spotora of Spotora Law, spearheaded the creation of Charity Case, a nonprofit arm of practicing law. The program donates a percentage of a participating client's billable time to a charitable organization of their choice.

“Very few people have gone unaffected by the deep tragedy of an ailment or worse, the life of a loved one. We need to do something about that and not just talk about it. That is why I created “Charity Case”, a way to not only help our clients with their legal problems, but to also assist various charitable organizations in their quests to discover cures for breast cancer, AIDS and Alzheimer’s,” Spotora explained.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Looking for Something?!

Check out B.A.F.F.L.E.D. topics at the very bottom of the page, and find all the topics we've touched. And, click on B.A.F.F.L.E.D. Flashbacks at the top of the page for older posts with timeless information.

Friday, September 17, 2010

The Delta Institute, a non profit organization that is committed to growing the green economy in the Great Lakes region and creating sustainability projects that aim to improve our environment, while developing the communities in the region.

In order to reach out to young professionals, Delta identified a diverse group of young professionals to reach out to their peers, spread the message of the green economy and how people in their 20s and 30s can have an impact on how we shape our environmental policies and practices.

Next month (October 13), the Delta Emerging Leaders Board is hosting the Green Soapbox, an after-work cocktail reception and networking event featuring the Green Soapbox; a chance for young adults in the sustainability field to let you know who they are, and what they are doing. The event will be held at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, located at 2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, Il.

It will be a fun event, and you don’t even need to be a green professional to come out to it! If you have even a passing interest in the green economy, environmental issues, fun, trivia, drinks, and/or networking, save the date and join the Delta Emerging Leaders!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

A little over a year after Michael's death, his mother, Katherine is filing suit against AEG, the entertainment company responsible for his This Is It tour and movie.

Katherine sites the company as pushing MJ too hard to rehearse, and work beyond his means. The suit claims Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal doctor for the last year of his life, was "selected by, hired by, and controlled by AEG". Murray is also the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit.

Jackson signed a contract in January 2009 with AEG Live for a series of comeback concerts in London set to have begun in July 2009. This Is It chronicles the rehearsals and making of what was to be Michael's biggest stage production and farewell to performing.

B.A.F.F.L.E.D. was blessed enough to take in the start of Fashion Week in NYC and here to give you some details from the scene.

As you all know, Fashion's Night Out was a global event on Friday, September 10th. It was an amazing streetfest in the City of NY with people all around in high fashion. The night was comparable to Halloween in NYC. Some of the highlights in Soho were Janelle Monae's performance at Ralph Lauren, the refreshments and giveaways at MAC and Burberry, and the grand re-opening of the Chanel Boutique. Coco had the entire corner of Spring Street covered, with lights, music and a line around the corner to get in. For video, check here!

The weekend continued in NYC style with preparations for the MTV Video Music Awards and fashion shows for the remainder of the week. Designers tested out Lincoln Center as the new venue for shows this year.

Celebs were on the scene throughout the city, making appearances and taking in the festivities. B.A.F.F.L.E.D. finished the weekend at the Edwing D'Angelo Fashion Show on Sunday, and what a treat. This gentleman has true talent in the fashion biz and showed it on the runway for certain.

Have any Fashion's Night Out or Fashion Week stories to share? Let's hear them!

Monday, September 13, 2010

As if the music industry hasn't changed substantially over the last 5-10 years, more changes could be on the horizon. With major increases in online and virtual sales, contracting and record deals are taking a whole new shape.

Famed rapper Eminen and his production team are at the forefront of this change. A San Francisco Federal Appeals Court recently ruled in their favor against record label, Universal Music Group. UMG was ordered to pay F.B.T., the team which helped start Em's career, a larger portion for online downloads and ringtones, than for music purchased in stores. This ruling is not only a sign of the times, but could be precedent for a change in the industry from here on out.

"As a practical matter, this case means every single music lawyer is going to be taking a close look at their clients' contracts to see if there's comparable language as a basis for a similar type of lawsuit," said Kelly Frey, a partner with Baker Donelson, who practices entertainment law in Nashville.

When the original contract was signed, the music industry still had heavy sales in physical stores, and ringtones were hardly as prevalent. Today, contracts are carefully drafted to account for online sales, and the technological innovation quickly changing the industry everyday.

This case also shows the difference in music sales v. music licensing. A sale creates a change in ownership, whereas a license creates an authorization to use. The ruling by the appeals court in San Francisco defined the transaction between the record label and an online store as a license not a record sale.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

We can't make note of September events without talking football! The defending Super Bowl Champions kick off another exciting NFL season tonight vs. the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans. With the weather still nice and the grills still warm, football fans are ready for this new season. Check out the official NFL schedule for all the must-see games!

Who will make the biggest impact this year? Will the Saints repeat? What about the Colts? Tell us what you think!

National Sewing Month - The observance of National Sewing Month began in 1982 with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan, declaring September as National Sewing Month “In recognition of the importance of home sewing to our Nation.”

National Hispanic Heritage Month - Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

September 15 is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Columbus Day or Día de la Raza is October 12

National Cholesterol Education Month - Although September is the month of recognition, working on healthy cholesterol levels should be done at all times. High blood cholesterol affects over 65 million Americans. It is a serious condition and can increase your risk for heart disease. Lowering cholesterol levels decreases your risk for heart disease, reduces the chance of having a heart attack, or dying of heart disease. Some can have high cholesterol and not know it, so eating right and taking care of your heart are always important. Cardio is your friend!

Check out the link for healthy recipes and regular ways to keep healthy!

Staying on the topic of optimal health, September is also National Yoga Month! Yoga is one of the oldest known sciences in the world, acknowledged by experts as a highly effective complementary alternative medicine.

National Yoga Month September 2010 invites all styles of yoga to participate in an awareness campaign designed to educate about the many benefits of yoga and inspire our fellow citizens to live healthier, happier lives. Learn the benefits!!

Enjoy September, and let us know of any notable events or causes we've missed!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

NYC'sFashion's Night Out 2010 will be the subject of a one hour TV special. CBS broadcasting recently announced a September 14th broadcast for the 2nd-year fashion event, highlighting the ins and outs of planning the big party.

Now in its second year, Fashion’s Night Out, a worldwide initiative to celebrate fashion and support local economies, was launched in 2009 by Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and NYC & Company in response to the global economic downturn.

The event encourages cities all around the world to put fashion on the map and stimulate the economy. Celebrities, brands, and retailers host special events, performances, and special sales after-hours, creating an evening of fun, networking, and shopping.

Rap star T.I. and his R&B/reality star wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle-Harris, were arrested in Los Angeles yesterday on suspicion of drug possession. The couple was pulled over on a traffic stop when the smell of marijuana tipped off cops. The couple was released on $10,000 bond while pills suspected as ecstasy found in the car are being examined.

On the east coast, Puffy is getting sued for age discrimination. The $12 million suit was filed by 51-year-old Francesca Spero, after she was fired from Bad Boy. She claims Puffy had no patience for her after she needed a major hip surgery in 2008, and when she later “suffered a relapse” to an addiction to prescription medication and alcohol.

According to a Bad Boy spokesperson, “This is a grab for money by someone who concedes in her complaint to having had a drug relapse while on the job and an employer who was not satisfied with her work,”. "There are many reasons why Ms. Spero is no longer employed by Bad Boy, but age discrimination is not one of them.” We have to wonder where Puff's patience really ran short....

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Yes, the geeks of the world are standing up to God. But it's not exactly the way it sounds.

The well-known "Geek Squad", a trademarked computer tech department in Best Buy stores, has sent a cease and desist letter to the "God Squad". The Geek Squad is often seen to be the saving grace for our failed hard drives, flash drives, and other computer-related nightmares. Now they want to save their market recognition as such a savior.

On the other side, the God Squad serves as a ministry group in Fond Du Lac, WI. The leader of the group, Father Luke Strand, drives a Volkswagen Bug, donned with a logo quite similar to the one owned by Best Buy. In trademark law, the main prong for arguing infringement is confusion in the market. When one mark so greatly resembles another, to the point of confusing consumers, grounds for infringement are bound to surface.

In this case, although the God Squad and Geek Squad are clearly in different markets, the close mirroring logos could cause some conflict. Paula Baldwin, from Best Buy's PR department, insisted the company must pursue all trademark infringements, or let the logo's strength in the market weaken. "This was a really difficult thing for us to do because we appreciate what Father Strand is trying to accomplish with his mission. But at the end of the day, it's bad precedent to let some groups violate our trademark while pursuing others," she said.

Currently, Best Buy is working with Father Strand and the God Squad to find an amicable resolution. Ministry and computer tech are not the parties we want in conflict. Could you imagine the social dismay?!